{{short description|Species of flowering plant in the borage family Boraginaceae}} {{Speciesbox | image = Myosotis sylvatica 03.jpg | genus = Myosotis | species = sylvatica | authority = [[Ehrh.]] }} [[File:Myosotis sylvatica 3.jpg|thumb]] '''''Myosotis sylvatica''''', the '''wood forget-me-not''' or '''woodland forget-me-not''',<ref>{{PLANTS|id=MYSY|taxon=Myosotis sylvatica|accessdate=15 July 2015}}</ref> is a [[species]] of [[flowering plant]] in the [[Family (taxonomy)|family]] [[Boraginaceae]], [[native plant|native]] to Europe. This spring-flowering plant and its cultivars, typically with blue flowers, are the familiar forget-me-nots of gardens.

==Description== It is a short-lived [[herbaceous]] [[perennial plant]], growing to {{convert|12|-|30|cm|0|abbr=on}} tall by {{convert|15|cm|0|abbr=on}} wide, with hairy leaves and a profusion of flowers with petals longer than their tube, pink in bud then opening disc-shaped, intensely sky-blue with yellow centres in spring.

Stace (2011)<ref name="Stace">''New Flora of the British Isles''; [[Clive Stace]]; Third edition; 2011 printing</ref> describes this plant as having the following characteristics: * Upright, to 50&nbsp;cm; softly hairy, with hairs at more-or-less right-angles to the main stem. * Flowers sky-blue, to 6–10&nbsp;mm across, flat in profile; [[sepal]] tube with hooked hairs; April–July.<ref>The Wild Flowers of Britain and Northern Europe; Fitter, Fitter, Blamey; Collins; 3rd edition 1978</ref> * Mature fruit dark brown, shiny. * Mature [[calyx (botany)|calyx]] on spreading stalks longer than [[sepal]] tube; [[calyx (botany)|calyx]] teeth spreading to expose the ripe fruit. * Basal leaves stalked, in a rosette; upper leaves not stalked. * [[File:Woodland Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica), close shot.jpg|alt=Inflorescence of Myosotis sylvatica|thumb|Inflorescence of ''Myosotis sylvatica'']]Generally found in woods, scree and rock ledges; common throughout the British Isles.

==Cultivation== Widely cultivated throughout the [[temperateness|temperate]] world, it is particularly associated with spring [[Bedding (horticulture)|bedding]] schemes involving other spring-flowering subjects, notably daffodils, tulips, wallflowers, and primulas. Typically seeds are sown one year to flower the next. Though short-lived, plants readily self-seed in favourable situations. Plants maintain leaf growth throughout winter.

''M. sylvatica'' is also a parent of numerous cultivars in shades of pink, blue and white.<ref name=RHSAZ>{{cite book|title=RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants|year=2008|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|location=United Kingdom|isbn=978-1405332965|pages=1136}}</ref> The cultivars 'Bluesylva'<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/162013/i-Myosotis-sylvatica-i-Bluesylva-(Sylva-Series)/Details | title = RHS Plantfinder - ''Myosotis'' 'Bluesylva' (Sylva Series) | accessdate = 10 April 2018}}</ref> and the compact 'Blue Ball'<ref>{{cite web | url =https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/106186/i-Myosotis-i-Blue-Ball/Details | title = RHS Plantfinder - ''Myosotis'' 'Blue Ball' | accessdate = 10 April 2018}}</ref> have gained the [[Royal Horticultural Society]]'s [[Award of Garden Merit]].<ref name=RHSAGMlist>{{cite web | url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf | title = AGM Plants - Ornamental | date = July 2017 | page = 65 | publisher = Royal Horticultural Society | accessdate = 10 April 2018}}</ref>

Other cultivars include: *'Blue Basket', a taller variety with deeper blue flowers *'Music', erect and large flowered *'Pompadour', compact, ball-shaped with large rose-pink flowers *'Snowball', white flowers *'Ultramarine', dwarf with very deep blue flowers *'Victoria Rose', bright pink flowers

==British Isles== As plants readily self-seed, it is often difficult to establish whether plants seen in the wild are in fact [[garden escape]]s.

It is widespread in [[England]], [[Wales]], and the [[Isle of Man]], although less frequent further north. It can be found along much of the east coast of [[Scotland]] and areas in the South West, although missing from most of the [[Scottish Highlands|Highlands]], [[Orkney]], [[Shetland]], and the [[Outer Hebrides]]. In Ireland it is mostly found in [[Northern Ireland]], although there are a few spots in the [[Republic of Ireland]].<ref>https://data.nbn.org.uk/Taxa/NHMSYS0000460822, NBN Gateway.''Myosotis sylvatica Ehrh. ex Hoffm. [Wood Forget-me-not]'', NBN Gateway. Retrieved 13/04/15</ref>

==Gallery== <gallery> File:Myosotis sylvatica Calyx.jpg|Close up of calyx, background lines are 5mm apart File:Myosotis sylvatica Calyx on stem.JPG|Calyx in its stem File:Myosotis sylvatica Flower.jpg|Close up of flower, background square is 5mm across File:Myosotis sylvatica Flower head.JPG|Flower head - note how flat the petals are File:Myosotis sylvatica Calyx with mature fruit.jpg|Calyx with mature fruit inside, background lines are 5mm apart File:Myosotis sylvatica Mature fruit-side 1.jpg|Side 1 of mature fruit, background lines are 5mm apart File:Myosotis sylvatica Mature fruit-side 2.jpg|Side 2 of mature fruit, background lines are 5mm apart File:Myosotis sylvatica Stem.jpg|Close up of stem, background square is 5mm across </gallery>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q149464}}

[[Category:Flora of Alaska]] [[Category:Myosotis|sylvatica]] [[Category:Garden plants]] [[Category:Garden plants of North America]] [[Category:Flora of Michigan]] [[Category:Flora of Europe]] [[Category:Flora without expected TNC conservation status]]